Over the past year, I have been thinking more about my consumption of plants. Living as vegan I have taken into account my actions towards, humans, animals, insects, but now I'm wanting to show more compassion to plants.
Most people will argue that plants do not feel pain, but there is some evidence that plants in fact do feel pain. And if that is not the case, it still seems that the consuming a plant is objectifying it in some way.
I feel differently about consuming fruit and certain vegetables. Plants purposely make their fruit available in order to propagate themselves. But when we consume the entire plant, such as a potato or carrot for example, in a sense we have harmed that life form. We consume and destroy countless plant-life, never giving any thought to how they might feel. I should also include our fungus friends.
So when I think about that, it makes me question my habits. I can't completely eliminate my consumption of other life forms, but I can do things like show respect to every meal I consume, article of clothing, or the shelter that trees were sacrificed to provide. It gives new meaning to the expression, "stay off the grass."
It also makes me think about my consumption of not just food, but things in general. What does it mean to over eat or buy things in excess?
We all have to consume some form of life to survive. I just think, every living thing on this planet is a spiritual being that is worthy of reverence and consideration.
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